Heat exchanger in particular an evaporator for a vehicle air-conditioning unit

Abstract

A device is provided for heat transfer and in particular an evaporator for an air conditioning system of motor vehicles having at least one header tank including at least two header chambers which are substantially defined by a base device and a top device. The top device includes middle side walls which are arranged adjacent to one another at least over a portion. The distance between the two side walls increases with the height above the base device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A heat exchanger, in particular an evaporator for an air conditioning system of motor vehicles, comprising:
 at least one header tank having at least two header chambers wherein substantially each header chamber is substantially defined by a base device and a top device; 
 wherein the top device of a first header chamber comprises a first middle side wall and the top device of a second header chamber comprises a second middle side wall; 
 wherein at least a section of the first middle side wall is positioned adjacent to the second middle side wall; 
 wherein a lateral distance of the first middle side wall from the second middle side wall increases with the distance from the base device at least over a portion of the height of the header tank; and 
 wherein opposing portions of the first and second middle side walls are planar such that the lateral distance between the first and second middle wall is a V-shaped gap which is continuous and strictly monotonically increasing. 
 
     
     
       2. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one stabilizing device is provided on at least one side wall to increase stability. 
     
     
       3. The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , characterized in that a longitudinal direction of at least one stabilizing device is substantially perpendicular to the base device. 
     
     
       4. The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein at least one stabilizing device is configured as a depression system. 
     
     
       5. The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein at least one stabilizing device is configured as a groove system. 
     
     
       6. The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein at least one stabilizing device is substantially configured as a groove. 
     
     
       7. The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein at least one stabilizing device projects outwardly. 
     
     
       8. The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , characterized in that at least one stabilizing device is configured as a crease system. 
     
     
       9. The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein a depth of at least one stabilizing device increases with a distance from the base device. 
     
     
       10. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one partition is provided which comprises a guiding crease. 
     
     
       11. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein in a contact region of the middle side walls with the base device a base recess is positioned. 
     
     
       12. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one flat tube has a smaller wall thickness in the region of a flange than in a region of a radius. 
     
     
       13. The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , characterized in that at least one flat tube has a wall thickness in the region of the flanges smaller by at least 20% than in a region of the radius. 
     
     
       14. The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein at least one flat tube has a wall thickness of approximately 0.3 mm at least at one position in the region of the flanges. 
     
     
       15. The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein at least one flat tube has a wall thickness of approximately 0.5 mm at least at one position in the region of a radius. 
     
     
       16. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one top device is manufactured integrally. 
     
     
       17. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one top device is manufactured integrally with the base device. 
     
     
       18. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one connection aperture is arranged on a longitudinal side section of the header tank. 
     
     
       19. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the header tank is connected with two rows of heat exchanger tubes arranged in-line. 
     
     
       20. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the base device and/or the top device are formed of a pretreated plate. 
     
     
       21. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one side wall comprises at least one tab which is inserted in a recess of the base device. 
     
     
       22. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a cover lid is arranged at least at one end face of at least one header chamber. 
     
     
       23. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one connection aperture is arranged at one end face of at least one header chamber of the header tank.